In partnership with Auto Trader
Best used coupés
Those interested in coupés that don't cost a fortune to buy or run, look no further. All these used options are good to drive and great value for money too...
A sleek and stylish coupé will always be a desirable commodity. It's the kind of car you see on film posters and in pretentious fragrance ads. The best coupés exude class, elegance and athleticism – and, as a result, car makers tend to charge you a packet.
The used car market is a slightly different story. With age comes lower prices, and this category is no exception. In other words, you can pick up a sleek and swoopy secondhand model for the price of a sensible new family hatchback.
Here, we've brought together our top 10 favourites, in both two-door and four or five-door forms. Click on the links under each review, and you can even buy one of the cars via our online used car classifieds site.
Strengths
- Entertaining driving experience
- Rapid M440i
- Smart interior
Weaknesses
- Some rivals have bigger boots
- Far from the cheapest used coupé on the market
- Some road noise
This latest BMW 4 Series is a coupé version of the ever-popular BMW 3 Series executive saloon, featuring a wider rear end, a stiffer body, and a lower centre of gravity. All of these features combine to make this one of the most rewarding cars to drive currently on sale.
In fact, all versions are great to drive. Even our favourite entry-level 420i is a hoot, while the range-topping 369bhp M440i is a six-cylinder riot of power and fun. It's in the corners that all 4 Series shine, with quick steering, plenty of grip and eager handling, despite which the ride is quite supple in all versions. It beats all rivals from Audi and Mercedes for sophistication.
It's reasonably spacious inside and very well-finished, too. On top of that, a three-year-old version of our favourite 420i model now comes with a healthy saving on what you'd pay for a new one, and its reliability is excellent.
All in, then, a used 4 Series truly is a brilliant all-rounder. It deserves the top slot here.
“The 4 Series’ seats are more heavily bolstered than those of some rivals, so they hold you in place better through corners. For keen drivers like me, that's a big bonus.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
We found: 2022 BMW 420i M Sport, 42,000 miles, £26,995
Read our full used BMW 4 Series review
Search for a used BMW 4 Series for sale
Strengths
- Fabulous interior design and quality for a car in this class
- Brilliant handling makes for a fun driving excperience
- Comfortable ride in most models, even on rougher roads
Weaknesses
- Limited rear-seat space for adults
- Not very well equipped
- Higher powered models can be costly to run
Over the years, the Audi TT has managed to fend off all competition that tries to match its winning combination of class, practicality and fine driving dynamics.
With sharp, agile handling, it's a joy to drive, and thanks to a class-leading interior and confidence-inspiring reliability, it's effortless to live with as well. There's a range of fine engines to choose from and well-equipped trims.
With prices starting from just £10,000 for early TTs of this generation, it's simply a stellar buy and a terrific used coupé.
"It's the comfort of a TT that always impresses me. Yes, it's great to drive, good to own and reliable, but you can potter around town and it's still a lovely thing." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Sport, 34,000 miles, £25,000
Read our full used Audi TT review
Search for a used Audi TT for sale
Strengths
- More practical than the coupé
- Excellent handling
- Expansive engine line-up
- Very affordable
Weaknesses
- Dated interior
- High boot lip
- Firm M Sport suspension
- Reliability a bit mixed
Admittedly, this isn't the latest and greatest BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé model, which we heartily recommend too, but this previous iteration remains a great thing to behold, and it's much cheaper to buy.
It’s smooth and refined, and you can get it with rear or four-wheel drive, and with a large range of excellent engines. This highly desirable Gran Coupé version, with five doors, a hatchback rear and a decent-sized boot, is practical and even family-friendly. Add top-notch infotainment and superb value for money, and it's tough to beat.
"My nephew has one. He loves it, and when two kids came along, he kept it. They all fit in well, and he turns his nose up at his friends in their SUVs." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2020 BMW 430i Gran Coupé M Sport auto, 79,000 miles, £13,995
Read our full used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé review
Search for a used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé for sale
Strengths
- Sharp handling
- M240i feels special
- Good infotainment system
Weaknesses
- Firm ride without adaptive suspension
- Not especially practical
- Some useful features are optional
Rather than being based on the contemporary BMW 1 Series hatchback, as its predecessor was, the current BMW 2 Series actually shares its underpinnings with its bigger brother and our favourite here, the 4 Series.
Its closest rival for size in this list is the Mercedes CLA, which has four doors and front-wheel drive (as opposed to two doors and rear-wheel drive). That makes the CLA by far the more practical of the pair, but the 2 Series counters with a classier interior and sharper handling.
Step up to a used version of the truly impressive 4 Series if you can, but this 2 Series is still a cracking coupé and a great second-hand buy. Few can match it for driving pleasure.
"The 2 Series condenses many of its 4 Series sibling's strengths into a smaller, more affordable package. I particularly like its user-friendly infotainment system." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor
We found: 2022 BMW 220i Coupé M Sport auto, 35,000 miles, £19,495
Read our full used BMW 2 Series review
Search for a used BMW 2 Series for sale
Strengths
- Lovely interior
- Refinement
- Comfortable ride
Weaknesses
- Vague steering
- Awkward boot
- Expensive infotainment option
- Merc reliability a little mixed
If you don't need four doors yet desire a suave and comfy four-seat coupé that’s good to drive and wears a premium badge, the Mercedes E-Class Coupé satisfies – and then some.
The design is sophisticated, with an understated elegance, and it shares its underpinnings with the contemporary 2016-2024 Mercedes E-Class saloon, which is a good thing, because that’s a very competent executive car. You can also expect good reliability and a classy interior.
There's plenty of room inside for four, and a good range of refined petrol and diesel engines to satisfy any mood. The E220d is punchy and economical, but if you prefer petrol, the E300 is a delightfully smooth shifter.
"In some ways, the E-Class has it all. It's good-looking, great to drive, comfortable and reliable. I especially love the interior. It's not as well made as it looks, maybe, but it is stunning." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2022 Mercedes E220d Coupé AMG Line, 68,000 miles, £29,995
Read our full used Mercedes E-Class Coupé review
Search for a used Mercedes E-Class Coupé for sale
Strengths
- Plush interior with good use of high-quality materials
- Strong and smooth engines whether petrol or diesel
- Practical (by coupé standards) with reasonable rear room and good boot
Weaknesses
- Steering could be sweeter and some rivals better to drive
- Not as well equipped as some alternatives
- Firm sports suspension can take away from comfort
This two-door Audi A5 Coupé is a graceful grand tourer of a coupé, and few rivals can match its range of talents.
Treats include tidy handling, a smart interior, a comfortable ride and great performance. The Mercedes E-Class Coupé can seat four people too, but the Audi infotainment system is easier to operate. There's also a five-door version, the Audi A5 Sportback, which drives just as well and looks great and is perfect for families.
However, Audi's reliability has a question mark over it, and the E-Class is more reliable on paper. The A5 counters that by being slightly cheaper to buy age-for-age.
"So sharp looking, this car, and if you opt for the five-door Sportback, it's really practical. Not great for rear head room if you're 6ft 2in tall like me, though, and the Mercs beat it for reliability." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2022 Audi A5 Coupé 2.0 TFSI SE, 53,000 miles, £19,900
Read our full used Audi A5 review
Search for a used Audi A5 for sale
Strengths
- Wonderful interior
- Good refinement
- Residuals should be strong
- Reliability looks good
Weaknesses
- Restricted visibility
- Some rivals are better to drive
- Ride can be jiggly
With a stunning interior, this previous generation of the Mercedes CLA cuts quite a dash. It looks lavish, with great tech and lots of pizzazz.
Meanwhile, under its handsome bonnet, there's a good range of petrol engines to choose from, starting with a 134bhp CLA 180 and finishing with a rip-snorting CLA 45. There was even a diesel. All push the CLA along well, and all were decently refined.
In the bends, the CLA steers and handles nicely, even if not quite to BMW levels. The ride can occasionally be a little jiggly, but not enough to put you off the CLA's many charms.
It's a four-door coupé, so it's fairly practical, with plenty of room for four. The boot is a handy size, as large as the one that you’ll find in the regular Mercedes A-Class. Reliability looks good, too, as does its pricing: the CLA is cheaper age-for-age than some of its rivals from Audi and BMW. Its four doors, healthier reliability and neat looks push it above its sibling, the C-Class Coupe, in our list here.
"This generation really improved the CLA. It's much better to drive than earlier models and is nicely refined. My neighbours were really impressed by it, too." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2022 Mercedes CLA 180 AMG Line Executive, 41,000 miles, £20,995
Read our full used Mercedes CLA review
Search for a used Mercedes CLA for sale
Strengths
- Strong engines right across the range
- High-quality interior with good use of high-quaity materials
- Generous amount of standard equipment
Weaknesses
- Fiddly infotainment system
- Slow accelerator and gearbox response in some models
- Safe but hardly exciting handling
- Reliability can be an issue
The second-generation, five-door Audi A7 is a beautifully made and comfortable cruiser with a surprising amount of space inside for front and rear occupants.
That space continues when it comes to the A7 Sportback's boot. With a healthy capacity, it's bigger than that of most of its rivals, including the huge BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé; the A7 also has a wide hatchback tailgate, making it easier to load in larger items.
Behind the wheel, the A7 is competent rather than great fun to drive. There's also a question mark over Audi's reliability, especially relating to non-engine electrics. However, its used prices are highly attractive, as is its looks.
“I think it's annoying that you have to use a touchscreen to control so many things in the later versions of the Audi A7, but at least it gets its own dedicated display.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
We found: 2022 Audi A7 2.0 TFSI 45 Black Edition, 33,000 miles, £29,500
Read our full used Audi A7 review
Search for a used Audi A7 for sale
Strengths
- Comfortable ride on air suspension
- Good handling
- Smart interior
Weaknesses
- C300 model is a bit lacklustre
- Lazy automatic gearbox
- Reliability average
This classy Mercedes C-Class Coupé is more than just a two-door version of the Mercedes C-Class saloon: great steps were made to make sure it drives as good as its looks promise.
And it worked. On the road, the C-Class Coupé is capable and composed, and it handles competently, rides superbly and has a suitably smart interior.
True, its E-Class sibling has more pizzazz and has proved slightly more reliable, but the C-Class is an excellent proposition - your friends and family will be impressed by it, and you'll love it. The equivalent BMWs drive better, admittedly, and the Audis are better finished, but we think the C-Class strikes a very happy medium.
"I like the size of the C-Class, and if you find the E-Class too big for multi-storeys and country lanes, give it a look. It's a classy car and good value." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2020 Mercedes C-Class Coupé 200 AMG Line, 30,500 miles, £23,250
Read our full used Mercedes C-Class Coupé review
Search for a used Mercedes C-Class Coupé for sale
Strengths
- Punchy, efficient engines
- Well equipped in all trim levels
- Spacious inside
Weaknesses
- Auto 'box a tad jerky in traffic
- Concerning reliability record in some of our surveys
- Some rivals are sharper to drive
The Volkswagen Arteon shares parts with the 2015-2022 VW Passat, but don't go thinking it's merely a glitzier version.
It comes with a practical hatchback and a huge boot, and the Arteon has a range of impressively punchy and efficient engines to choose from. From 2020 onwards, you could even buy a plug-in hybrid version that can travel up to 35 miles on electric power alone.
It's also well equipped, wonderfully spacious and extremely sophisticated. Few can match it for its refinement. Its reliability record has been a bit mixed through the years, but owners seem happy with their cars on the whole, and most issues seem centred around the touchscreen or non-engine electrical faults.
For less than £20,000, you can put a 2022 model on your driveway, which, considering it wasn't a cheap car new, makes it a bit of a used car bargain.
"Very few cars exude the class of the Arteon at this price level. It always feels to me an equal to the plush Audi A7, and in some ways almost better to drive." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Volkswagen Arteon 1.5 TSI Elegance, 47,000 miles, £19,500
Read our full used Volkswagen Arteon review
Search for a used Volkswagen Arteon for sale
FAQs
A coupé is most typically defined by its bodystyle, because most have only two doors and a sleek roofline, but here we include those that have four or five doors (if you include the hatchback rear door). The BMW 4 Series, for example, is a coupé version of the BMW 3 Series saloon. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is one that has five doors. Other notable definitions include a sporty driving experience to go with the sleek looks, with some offering sharp steering and suspension set-ups, as well as powerful engines. In short, a coupé is a car you buy for style and fun rather than practicality – but that's not to say those things aren't important, they're just secondary considerations to most buyers.
While plenty of the four-door coupés have four or five seats, and some have the comfort of a five-door saloon with the added practicality of a hatchback’s wide-opening tailgate, they are not what you'd immediately think of recommending to a family with young children. However, older children will be able to climb in and out of most of them with ease, and in combination with often sizeable boots, some coupés make very good family transport. Also don't forget that these days, you can also now buy bespoke coupé SUVs, and we've named the best and worst options separately.
On many occasions, they are, yes, because buyers are prepared to spend more on the extra style of a two-door (or five-door) coupé. However, don't forget that you can now buy these four-door/five-door coupés, such as the Audi A7 Sportback and the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, which offer the style of a two-door car with the added practicality of two rear doors. And in most cases, that means you can get the best of both worlds.
